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Our Little Korean Cousin 


The Little Cousin Series 

I L LUSTRA TED 

& 

By Mary Hazelton Wade 

Our Little African Cousin 
Our Little Armenian Cousin 
Our Little Brown Cousin 
Our Little Cuban Cousin 
Our Little Eskimo Cousin 
Our Little German Cousin 
Our Little Hawaiian Cousin 
Our Little Indian Cousin 
Our Little Irish Cousin 
Our Little Italian Cousin 
Our Little Japanese Cousin 
Our Little Jewish Cousin 
Our Little Mexican Cousin 
Our Little Norwegian Cousin 
Our Little Philippine Cousin 
Our Little Porto Rican Cousin 
Our Little Russian Cousin 
Our Little Siamese Cousin 
Our Little Swiss Cousin 
Our Little Turkish Cousin 

By Blanche McManus 

Our Little English Cousin 
Our Little French Cousin 

By Elizabeth Roberts MacDonald 

Our Little Canadian Cousin 
By Isaac Taylor Headland 

Our Little Chinese Cousin 
By H. Lee M. Pike 

Our Little Korean Cousin 

& 

Each volume illustrated with six full-page plates in tint, from original 
drawings. 

Cloth, i2mo, with decorative cover, per volume, 60 cents. 

L. C PAGE & COMPANY 
New England Building, Boston, Mass. 

















































































YUNG PAK 






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Our Little Korean 
Cousin 


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H By 

H. Lee M. Pike 


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Illustrated by 

L. J. Bridgman 


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4* Boston 4 

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UBRARY of CONGRESS 
fwo Copies Received 

JUL 6 1905 

_ Copy rurn i tmry 
CWiSS 7/9 XXC. Nw 



Copyright , 

By L. C. Page & Company 

(incorporated) 

All rights reserved 



Published May, 1905 


COLONIAL PRESS 

Electrotyped and Printed by C. H. Simonds &* Co. 
Boston , U.S.A. 


Preface 


Until very recently little has been known 
of the strange land in which the subject of 
this tale lives. Recent events have done much 
to introduce Korea and its people to the 
world at large. For this reason the story of 
Yung Pak’s youthful days may be the more 
interesting to his Western cousins. 

These are stirring times in Korea, and it 
may safely be prophesied that the little Ko- 
reans of the present day will occupy a larger 
place ip the world’s history than have their 
fathers and grandfathers. Their bright eyes 
are now turned toward the light, and, under 
the uplifting influences of education and civ- 


VI 


Preface 


ilization, the old superstitions and antique 
customs are bound to give way. 

Some famous Americans and Englishmen 
have had no small part in letting in the light 
upon this dark nation, and in years to come, 
when Korea shall have attained to the full 
stature of national strength, the names of 
Rodgers, Blake, Kimberly, and many others 
will be held in high esteem by the people 
of that country. 

This little volume gives just a glimpse into 
the mode of life, the habits and customs, the 
traditions and superstitions, of the Koreans. 
If it awakens an interest in the minds of its 
young readers, and inspires them with a desire 
for further knowledge of their cousins in this 
far Eastern land, its purpose will be well 
served. 


Contents 


CHAPTER 

I. 

Some Queer Things . 

• • 

PAGE 

. I 

II. 

Yung Par’s Home 

• • 

. IO 

III. 

A Glimpse of the King . 

• • 

. 20 

IV. 

Yung Par at School 

• • 

. 28 

V. 

A Lesson in History 

• • 

• 35 

VI. 

The Monr’s Story . 

• • 

• 45 

VII. 

A Journey . 

• • 

• 59 

VIII. 

The Monastery at Chang - 

AN - SA 

. 84 

IX. 

A Full-fledged Top-rnot 

. 

. 92 






List of Ulu strations 


Yung Pak ...... Frontispiece 

A Street in Seoul io 

“ All the boys sit upon the floor ” . . 28s 

“ He must drop to his knees and make a 

PROFOUND SALUTE” 34 v 

“ On the upper part of each of these posts 

WAS A RUDE carving ” 68 

“The day was passed in much the same man- 
ner AS the preceding one ” . . . *77 



Our Little Korean Cousin 


CHAPTER I. 

SOME QUEER THINGS 

Yung Pak was the very queer name of a 
queer little boy who lived in a queer house 
in a queer city. This boy was peculiar in his 
looks, his talk was in a strange tongue, his 
clothes were odd in colour and fit, his shoes 
were unlike ours, and everything about him 
would seem to you very unusual in appear- 
ance. But the most wonderful thing of all 
was that he did not think he was a bit queer, 
and if he should see one of you in your home, 
or at school, or at play, he would open wide his 


2 


Our Little Korean Cousin 


slant eyes with wonder at your peculiar ways 
and dress. The name of the country in which 
this little boy lived is Korea. 

One thing about Yung Pak, though, was 
just like little boys everywhere. When he 
first came to his home in the Korean city, a 
little bit of a baby, his father and mother were 
very, very glad to see him. Your father and 
mother gave you no warmer welcome than the 
parents of this little Korean baby gave to 
him. 

Perhaps Yung Pak’s father did not say 
much, but any one could have seen by his 
face that he was tremendously pleased. He 
was a very dignified man, and his manner was 
nearly always calm, no matter how stirred up 
he might have felt in his mind. This was one 
of the rare occasions when his face expanded 
into a smile, and he immediately made a 
generous offering of rice to the household 
tablets. 


Some Queer Things 


3 


All Koreans pay great honour to their dead 
parents, and tablets to their memory are placed 
in some room set apart for the purpose. Be- 
fore these tablets sacrifices are offered. Yung 
Pak’s father would have been almost over- 
whelmed with terror at thought of having no 
one to worship his memory and present offer- 
ings before his tablet. 

It is to be feared that if, instead of Yung 
Pak, a little daughter had come to this Korean 
house, the father and the mother would not 
have been so pleased. For, strange as it may 
seem to you who live in homes where little 
daughters and little sisters are petted and loved 
above all the rest of the family, in Korea little 
girls do not receive a warm welcome, though 
the mothers will cherish and fondle them — as 
much from pity as from love. The mothers 
know better than any one else how hard a way 
the little girl will have to travel through 
life. 


4 Our Little Korean Cousin 

But it is Yung Pak we want to tell you 
about. 

As his father was a wealthy man, all the 
comforts and luxuries which could be given to 
a Korean baby were showered on this tiny boy. 

One of the queer things, though, was that 
he had no little cradle in which he might be 
rocked to sleep. And you know that all 
babies, especially little babies, sleep a great 
deal. So how do you suppose Yung Pak’s 
mother used to put him to sleep in this land 
where cradles were unknown ? She put him 
on the bed and patted him lightly on the 
stomach. This she called to-tak , to-tak . 

As Yung Pak grew older he was given 
many toys, among them rattles, drums, flags, 
and dolls, just as you had them. Some of 
the toys, though, were very peculiar ones — 
different from anything you ever saw. He 
had little tasselled umbrellas, just like the big 
one his father used when he walked out in the 


Some Queer Things 


5 


sun. He also had little fringed hats and toy 
chariots with fancy wheels. One of Yung 
Pak’s favourite toys was a wooden jumping- 
jack with a pasteboard tongue. By pulling a 
string the tongue was drawn in and a trumpet 
carried up to the mouth. 

Another favourite toy was a tiger on wheels. 
Tiger-hunting, by the way, was considered 
great sport by Yung Pak’s father. It was a 
very dangerous one, too, and sometimes lives 
were sacrificed in his efforts to capture or to 
kill this fierce wild beast. Sometimes the ani- 
mal was caught in a trap which was nothing 
less than a hut of logs with a single entrance. 
In the roof of the hut heavy beams would be 
placed on a forked stick. The bait — a young 
lamb or kid — would be tied beneath the 
beams. The moment the bait was touched, 
down would come the heavy timber — smash 
— on the tiger’s head. 

But Yung Pak’s tiger was ferocious only in 


6 Our Little Korean Cousin 


looks. It was made of paper pulp and painted 
with bright stripes. This harmless image of 
a fierce beast Yung Pak would pull about the 
floor with a string by the hour. 

All his pets were not of wood and paper. 
Real live animals he had. Puppies and kittens, 
of course. His greatest pet, though, was a 
monkey. What little boy ever saw a monkey 
that he didn't want for his own ? So when 
Yung Pak’s father made him a present of a 
monkey — a real monkey — alive — he just 
danced with glee. 

This monkey was not a very large one, — 
not over a foot high, — but he could cut capers 
and play tricks equal to any monkey you ever 
saw travelling with an organ-grinder. He was 
dressed in a scarlet jacket, and he was always 
with Yung Pak, except sometimes when he 
would try to plague him by breaking away and 
running — perhaps to the house-top or to 
the neighbour’s garden. 


Some Queer Things 7 

After a little while Yung Pak got used to 
these “ monkey shines,” and he knew that his 
pet would not stay away long after meal- 
time. 

As Yung Pak grew older he was allowed to 
play with other boys of his own age. A 
favourite sport was Hunting the Ring. In 
this game the boys would get together quite a 
large heap of sand. In this sand one of them 
would hide a ring, and then the urchins would 
all get slender sticks and poke around in the 
pile trying to find the ring. Whoever suc- 
ceeded in getting the ring on his stick won the 
game, and carried the prize home as a sign of 
victory. 

Sometimes Yung Pak would be the win- 
ner, and then he would march home with 
great glee and show the trophy to his 
father. 

One of the first things Yung Pak was 
taught was to be respectful to his father. 


8 Our Little Korean Cousin 


Never was he allowed to fail in this duty in 
the least. This does not seem strange when 
we know what a sober, serious, dignified man 
Yung Pak’s father was. It would not do to 
allow his son to do anything that would upset 
his dignity, though he loved him very much 
indeed. 

It was far different with the boy's mother. 
Her little boy soon learned that her wishes 
counted for very little in the family, and she 
never ventured to rebuke him, no matter how 
seriously he might offend her or what naughty 
thing he might do. 

One queer thing about Yung Pak was the 
way he used to wear his hair. While still 
very young his head was shaved, except a 
little round spot on the very crown. Here it 
was allowed to grow, and as years went by it 
grew quite long, and was braided in two plaits 
down his back. 

When Yung Pak grew to be a man the 


Some Queer Things 


9 


long hair was knotted up on top of his head, 
and for this reason many people call Koreans 
“ Top-knots.” But of this arrangement of 
the hair we shall tell more farther on. 


CHAPTER II. 


YUNG PAk’s HOME 

Ki Pak, Yung Pak’s father, was one of the 
king’s officials. On this account his home 
was near the great palace of the king, in the 
city of Seoul, the capital of the country. 

This city did not look much like the ones 
in which you live. There were no wide streets, 
no high buildings, no street-cars. Instead, 
there were narrow, dirty lanes and open gutters. 
Shopkeepers not only occupied both sides of 
the crowded streets, but half their wares were 
exposed in and over the dirty gutters. Grain 
merchants and vegetable dealers jostled each 
other in the streets themselves. In and about 
among them played the boys of the city, not 
even half-clothed in most cases. There were 


50 



A STREET IN SEOUL 


pMn 






Yung Pak’s Home n 

no parks and playgrounds for them such as 
you have. Often, too, boys would be seen 
cantering through the streets, seated sidewise 
on the bare backs of ponies, caring nothing 
for passers-by, ponies, or each other — laugh- 
ing, chatting, eating chestnuts. Other boys 
would be carrying on their heads small round 
tables covered with dishes of rice, pork, cab- 
bage, wine, and other things. 

Around the city was a great wall of stone 
fourteen miles in length. In some places it 
clung to the edges of the mountains, and then 
dropped into a deep ravine, again to climb 
a still higher mountain, perhaps. In one 
direction it enclosed a forest, in another 
a barren plain. Great blocks were the stones, 
that had been in place many, many years. 
It must have taken hundreds and thou- 
sands of men to put them in position, and, 
though the wall was hundreds of years old, it 
was still well preserved. It was from twenty- 


12 Our Little Korean Cousin 

five to forty feet high. The wall was hung 
from one end of the city to the other with 
ivy, which looked as if it had been growing 
in its place centuries before Yung Pak was 
born. 

In the wall were eight gates, and at each 
one a keeper was stationed at all hours of the 
day and night. No persons could come in or 
go out unless their business was known to 
those who had charge of the passage. 

Every evening, at sunset, the gates were 
closed, and during the night no one was 
allowed to pass through in either direction. 

A curious ceremony attended the closing 
of these gates. They were never shut till the 
king had been notified that all was well on 
the north, on the south, on the east, and 
on the west. As there were no telegraph lines, 
another way had to be provided by which mes- 
sages might be quickly sent. Bonfires upon 
the surrounding hills were used as signals. 


Yung Pak’s Home 13 

By these fires the king was told if all were 
well in his kingdom, and every evening, as 
soon as the sun was set, four beacon-fires on 
a hill within the walls told the news as it was 
flashed to them from the mountains outside. 
Then four officers, whose business it was to 
report to the king the message of the fires, 
hastened to him, and with great ceremony and 
much humility announced that all was well. 
On this the royal band of music would strike 
up its liveliest airs, and a great bell would toll 
its evening warning. This bell was the third 
largest in the world, and for five centuries it 
had given the signal for opening and closing 
the gates of Seoul, the chief city of the “ Land 
of the Morning Radiance.” 

At the stroke of the bell, with a great clang 
the gates were shut, and strong bars were 
placed across the inner sides, not to be re- 
moved until at early dawn the bell again gave 
its signal to the keepers. 


14 Our Little Korean Cousin 

To little Yung Pak, the loud tones of the 
bell meant more even than to the sentinels at 
the gates. He knew that not only was it a 
signal for the closing of the city gates, but it 
was also a warning that bedtime was at hand. 

The house in which Yung Pak lived was a 
very fine one, although the grounds were not 
as spacious as those of many houses in the 
outskirts of the city. But its walls were of 
stone, whereas many of the houses of Seoul 
had walls of paper. 

Yes, actually walls of paper ! 

But this paper was a very tough, fibrous 
substance, and would resist quite a heavy blow 
as well as keep out the cold. Its slight cost 
brought it within the means of the poorer 
people. 

In some parts of Korea the houses were 
built of stout timbers, the chinks covered with 
woven cane and plastered with mud. Neat 
hedges of interlaced boughs surrounded them. 


Yung Pak’s Home 15 

The chimney was often simply a hollow tree, 
not attached to the house. 

Ki Pak’s house was not only built of stone, 
but about it were four walls of stone, about 
five feet high, to help keep out intruders. The 
wall was surmounted by a rampart of plaited 
bamboo. In this wall were three gates, corre- 
sponding to entrances into the house itself. 
One gate, the largest, on the north side, was 
used only by Ki Pak himself, though after he 
grew older Yung Pak could enter this gate 
with his father. The second gate, on the east, 
was used by the family and friends of Ki Pak. 
The third and smallest gate was reserved for 
the use of the servants. 

The roof of this house was not covered with 
shingles, but with clay tiles, coloured red. 
Many houses in the city had simply a roof- 
covering of thatched straw. 

The house was but a single story high, but 
in this respect the king’s palace itself was no 


16 Our Little Korean Cousin 

better. There were three divisions to the 
house. One was for the use of the men, a 
second for the women of the family, and a 
third for the servants. Each division had 
a suitable number of rooms for its occupants. 

Yung Pak’s own sleeping-room was a dainty 
affair, with its paper walls, tiger-skin rugs 
upon the stone floor, and the softest of mats 
and silk and wadded cotton coverings for his 
couch. 

This couch, by the way, was another queer 
affair. It was built of brick ! Beneath it were 
pipes or flues connected with other pipes which 
ran beneath the whole house. Through these 
flues were forced currents of hot air from a 
blaze in a large fireplace at one end of the 
house. The chimney was at the other end, 
and thus a draught of hot air constantly passed 
beneath the floors in cold weather. On warm 
nights Yung Pak would pile his mats upon 
the floor and sleep as comfortably as ever you 


Yung Pak’s Home 17 

did on the softest feather bed your grand- 
mother could make. 

The windows of Ki Pak’s house were not 
made of glass, but were small square frames 
covered with oiled paper. These frames fitted 
into grooves so that they could be slid back 
and forth, and in warm weather the windows 
were always left open. The doors were made 
of wood, though in many houses paper or 
plaited bamboo was used. 

When Yung Pak ate his meals, he sat upon 
a rug on the floor with his father and such 
male guests as might be in the house. The 
women never ate with them. Their meals 
were served in their own rooms. 

A servant would bring to each person a 
sang , or small low table. Instead of a cloth, 
on each table was a sheet of fine glazed paper 
which had the appearance of oiled silk. This 
paper was made from the bark of the mulberry- 
tree. It was soft and pliable, and of such 


1 8 Our Little Korean Cousin 


a texture that it could be washed easier than 
anything else, either paper or cloth. On this 
were placed dishes of porcelain and earthen 
ware. There were no knives or forks, but in 
their place were chop-sticks such as the 
Chinese used. Spoons also were on the table. 
A tall and long-spouted teapot was always the 
finest piece of ware. 

On the dining-tables of the poorer people 
of Korea the teapot was never seen, for, 
strange as it may seem, in this land situ- 
ated between the two greatest tea-producing 
countries of the world, tea is not in common 
use. 

All Koreans have splendid appetites, and 
probably if you should see Yung Pak eating 
his dinner you would criticize his table 
manners. He not only ate a large amount of 
food, but ate it very rapidly — almost as if he 
feared that some one might steal his dinner 
before he could dispose of it. And you would 


Yung Pak’s Home 


19 


think that he never expected to get another 
square meal ! 

But it was not Yung Pak’s fault that he was 
such a little glutton. In his youngest days, 
when his mother used to regulate his food, she 
would stuff him full of rice. Then she would 
turn him over on his back and paddle his 
stomach with a ladle to make sure that he was 

well filled ! 

* 


CHAPTER III. 


A GLIMPSE OF THE KING 

Yung Pak’s earliest days were spent very 
much as are those of most babies, whether 
they live in Korea or America. Eating, and 
sleeping were his chief occupations. 

When he grew old enough to run about, his 
father employed for him a servant, Kim Yong, 
whose business it was to see that no harm came 
to the child. For several years the two were 
constantly together, even sleeping in the same 
room at night. 

Once when Yung Pak and his attendant 
were out for their daily walk their attention 
was attracted by the sound of music in the 
distance. 

“ What is that music?” asked Yung Pak. 


20 


A Glimpse of the King 21 

“ That is the king’s band. It must be that 
there is going to be a procession,” was Kim 
Yong’s reply. 

“ Oh, I know what it is,” said Yung Pak. 
“ The king is going to the new Temple of 
Ancestors. My father said the tablets on 
which the king’s forefathers’ names are en- 
graved are to be put in place to-day.” 

cc Let us hurry so as to get into a place 
where we can have a good view of the pro- 
cession.” 

“Yes, we will; for father told me that this 
is to be an extra fine one, and he is to be in it 
himself. I want to see him when he goes by.” 

By this time Yung Pak and Kim Yong 
were running as fast as their flowing garments 
and their dignity would allow them. And 
everybody else, from the dirtiest street boy to 
the gravest old man, was hurrying toward the 
palace gate through which the procession was 
to come. Yung Pak and Kim Yong were 


22 Our Little Korean Cousin 


fortunate enough to get a position where they 
could see the palace gate, and the procession 
would have to pass by them on its way to the 
temple. 

Meanwhile the band inside the palace walls 
kept up its music, and the people outside 
could also hear the shouts of officers giving 
their orders to guards and soldiers. 

Soon there was an extra flourish of the 
music, and the gate, toward which all eyes 
had been strained, was suddenly flung wide 
open with a great clang. 

Hundreds of soldiers already lined the 
streets to keep the crowd back out of the 
way of the procession. 

First through the gate came a company 
of Korean foot-soldiers, in blue uniforms. 
Directly after them came a lot of palace attend- 
ants in curious hats and long robes of all 
colours of the rainbow. Some were dressed 
in blue, some in red, some in orange, some in 


A Glimpse of the King 23 

yellow, some in a mixture of colours. All 
carried staves bound with streamers of ribbons. 

Following the attendants came a line of 
bannermen, with red flags, on which were 
various inscriptions in blue ; then came drum- 
mers and pipe-players dressed in yellow cos- 
tumes, their instruments decked with ribbons. 

Yung Pak next saw more soldiers, dressed 
in the queerest of ancient costumes ; afterward 
came men with cymbals and bells, cavalrymen 
on foot, and more palace attendants. Through 
the whole line were seen many officials, gaudily 
adorned with plumes, gold lace, gilt fringe, 
swords, and coloured decorations of all sorts. 
Many of the officials had on high-crowned hats 
decorated with bunches of feathers and crimson 
tassels. These were fastened by a string of 
amber beads around the throat. Blue and 
orange and red were the colours of their robes. 
Then followed more bannermen, drummers, 
and servants carrying food, fire, and pipes. 


24 Our Little Korean Cousin 

All the time there was a tremendous beating 
of drums and blowing of horns and ringing of 
bells. The noise was so great that Kim Yong 
hardly heard Yung Pak when he shouted : 

“ Oh, I see papa ! ” 

“ Where is he ? ” 

“ Don’t you see him right behind that little 
man in yellow who is carrying a big blue 
flag ? ” 

ff Oh, yes,” said Kim Yong. “ He has on 
a long green robe, and on his turban are long 
orange plumes.” 

“Yes; and on both sides of him, in green 
gauze coats, are his servants. I wonder if he 
will notice us as he goes by.” 

“ Indeed he will not. At least, if he does 
see us, he will give no sign, for this is too 
solemn and important an occasion for him to 
relax his dignity.” 

On state occasions Ki Pak could look as 
sedate and dignified as the most serious official 


A Glimpse of the King 25 

in all Korea ; and that is saying a good deal, 
for in no country do the officials appear more 
solemn than in this <c Land of the Morning 
Radiance.” 

Now along came more soldiers, followed by 
the great nobles of the kingdom, and finally, 
amid a most terrific beating of drums, a fearful 
jangling of bells, and a horrid screaming of 
pipes, the guard of the king himself appeared. 

Suddenly all was silent. Drum-beating, pipe- 
blowing, and shouting all died away. The 
sound of hurried footsteps alone was heard. 
All at once into sight came the imperial chair 
of state. In this chair was the king, but not 
yet could Yung Pak get a glimpse of his royal 
master. Yellow silken panels hid him from 
the view of the curious crowd, and over the 
top was a canopy of the same description, 
ornamented with heavy, rich tassels. 

This gorgeous chair was much heavier than 
those used by officials and ordinary citizens, 


26 Our Little Korean Cousin 


and it took thirty-two men to carry it quickly 
and safely past the throng to the entrance of 
the temple. Only a few minutes were necessary 
for this journey, for the temple was but a short 
distance from the palace gate, and both were 
in plain sight of Yung Pak and Kim Yong. 

It was only a fleeting glimpse of the king that 
they got, as he passed from his chair to the 
temple gate ; but this was enough to repay 
Yung Pak for the rushing and the crowding 
and the waiting that he had been obliged to 
endure. Rare indeed were these glimpses of 
his Majesty, and they afforded interest and 
excitement enough to last a long while. 

But the procession was not over yet. A 
chair covered with red silk, borne on the 
shoulders of sixteen chair-men, passed up to 
the temple. 

“ Who is in that chair ? ” asked Yung Pak 
of his companion. 

“ The crown prince,” was Kim Yong’s reply. 


A Glimpse of the King 27 

“He attends his royal father in all these cere- 
monies of state.” 

Yung Pak drew a long breath, but said 
nothing. He only thought what a fine thing 
it must be to be a king's son, and wear such 
gorgeous clothes, and have so many servants 
at his call. 

And then he had a second thought. He 
would not want to exchange his splendid father 
for all the glory and magnificence of the king's 
court. 

After the king and the crown prince, with 
their attendant officials and servants and priests, 
had gone into the temple, Yung Pak and Kim 
Yong did not stay longer at their post. The 
order of the procession had broken, and the 
king and his immediate retinue would return 
privately to the palace after he should pay 
homage and offer sacrifice to the spirits of his 


ancestors. 


CHAPTER IV. 

YUNG PAK AT SCHOOL 

Little Korean boys have to go to school, 
just as you do, though they do not study in 
just the same way. You would be surprised 
if you were to step into a Korean schoolroom. 
All the boys sit upon the floor with their legs 
curled up beneath them. Instead of the quiet, 
silent scholars, you would hear a loud and 
deafening buzz. All the pupils study out 
loud. They not only do their studying aloud, 
but they talk very loud, as if each one were 
trying to make more noise than his neighbour. 

The Koreans call this noise kang-siong , and 
it seems almost deafening to one unused to it. 
You would think the poor teacher would be 


28 



“ ALL THE BOYS SIT UPON THE FLOOR 




Yung Pak at School 29 

driven crazy, but he seems as calm as a daisy 
in a June breeze. 

The Korean boys have to have cc tests ” and 
examinations just as you do. When a lad has 
a good lesson, the teacher makes a big red 
mark on his paper, and he carries it home with 
the greatest pride, — just as you do when you 
take home a school paper marked “ ioo.” 

But Yung Pak was not allowed to share the 
pleasures and the trials of the boys in the 
public school. 

One day, soon after he was six years old, 
his father sent for him to come to his private 
room, — perhaps you would call it a study or 
library. With Yung Pak’s father was a strange 
gentleman, a young man with a pleasant face 
and an air of good breeding. 

“This,” said Ki Pak to his son as he en- 
tered the room, “is Wang Ken. I have 
engaged him to be your teacher, or tutor. 
The time has come for you to begin to learn 


30 Our Little Korean Cousin 

to read and to cipher and to study the history 
and geography of our country.” 

Yung Pak made a very low bow, for all 
Korean boys are early taught to be courteous, 
especially to parents, teachers, and officials. 

In this case he was very glad to show 
respect to his new tutor, for he liked his ap- 
pearance and felt sure that they would get on 
famously together. More than that, though 
he liked to play as well as any boy, he was 
not sorry that he was going to begin to learn 
something. Even at his age he had ambitions, 
and expected that sometime he would, like his 
father, serve the king in some office. 

Wang Ken was equally well pleased with 
the looks of the bright boy who was to be his 
pupil, and told Yung Pak’s father that he 
believed there need be no fear but what they 
would get on well together, and that the boy 
would prove a bright scholar. 

To Wang Ken and his pupil were assigned 


Yung Pak at School 


3i 


a room near Ki Pak’s library, where Yung 
Pak would spend several hours each day try- 
ing his best to learn the Korean A B C’s. 

The first book he had to study was called 
c< The Thousand Character Classic.” This 
was the first book that all Korean boys had 
to study, and was said to have been written by 
a very wise man hundreds of years ago. A 
strange thing about it was that it was com- 
posed during one night, and so great was 
the wise man’s struggle that his hair and beard 
turned white during that night. When Yung 
Pak was told this fact he was not a bit sur- 
prised. He thought it was hard enough to 
have to learn what was in the book, to say 
nothing of writing it in the beginning. 

At the same time that Yung Pak was learn- 
ing to read, he was also learning to write. But 
you would have been amused if you could 
have seen his efforts. The strangest thing 
about it was that he did not use a pen, but had 


32 Our Little Korean Cousin 

a coarse brush on a long handle. Into the 
ink he would dip this brush and then make 
broad marks on sheets of coarse paper. You 
would not be able to understand those marks 
at all. They looked like the daubs of a sign- 
painter gone crazy. 

Later on, Yung Pak had to study the his- 
tory and geography of his country. Some of 
the names he had to learn would amuse you 
very much. The name of the province of 
Haan-kiung, for instance, meant Perfect Mir- 
ror, or Complete View Province. Kiung- 
sang was the Korean name for Respectful 
Congratulation Province, and Chung-chong 
meant Serene Loyalty Province. One part of 
Korea, where the inhabitants were always peace- 
able and unwarlike, was called Peace and Quiet 
Province, or, in the Korean language, Ping-an. 

Under Wang Ken's instruction Yung Pak 
made rapid progress in his studies, and when 
the boy's father questioned him from time to 


Yung Pak at School 


33 


time as to what he had learned, he was very 
much pleased, and commended his son for his 
close attention to his studies. 

“ Sometime,” Ki Pak said to the boy, “ if 
you continue to make such good progress 
in your studies, you will be able to hold a 
high position in the service of the king.” 

In explanation of this remark, you should 
understand that no young man was able to 
enter into the government service of Korea 
until he could pass a very hard examination in 
many studies. 

Many things besides book-learning did 
Wang Ken teach his pupil. In all the rules 
of Korean etiquette he was carefully and per- 
sistently drilled. 

As you have already been told, Yung Pak 
had from his earliest days been taught the 
deepest reverence and honour for his father. 
This kind of instruction was continued from 
day to day. He was told that a son must not 


34 Our Little Korean Cousin 

play in his father’s presence, nor assume free 
or easy posture before him. He must often 
wait upon his father at meal-times, and pre- 
pare his bed for him. If the father is old or 
sickly, the son sleeps near him by night, and 
does not leave his presence by day. If for 
any reason the father is cast into prison, the 
son makes his home near by in order that he 
may provide such comforts for his unfortunate 
parent as the prison officials will allow. 

If, by chance, the father should be banished 
from the country for his misdeeds, the son 
must accompany him at least to the borders 
of his native land, and in some instances must 
go with him into exile. 

When the son meets his father in the street, 
he must drop to his knees and make a pro- 
found salute, no matter what the state of the 
roadway. In all letters which the son writes 
to his father he uses the most exalted titles 
and honourable phrases he can imagine. 


' 



“ HE MUST DROP TO HIS KNEES AND MAKE A PROFOUND 

SALUTE ” 




CHAPTER V. 


A LESSON IN HISTORY 

As you already know, Yung Pak’s father 
intended that his son, when he grew up, 
should fill a position in the service of the 
king. To fit him for this work, it was im- 
portant that the boy should learn all that he 
could of his country’s history. 

On this account Yung Pak’s tutor had 
orders to give to the lad each day, during the 
hours devoted to study, some account of events 
in the rise and progress of the Korean nation 
or of its royal families. 

You must know that Korea is a very old 
country, its history dating back hundreds of 
years before America was discovered by Chris- 
topher Columbus. 


35 


36 Our Little Korean Cousin 

Now Wang Ken knew that dry history had 
very few attractions for his young pupil, or 
any lively boy for that matter, so as far as 
possible he avoided the repetition of dates and 
uninteresting events, and often gave to Yung 
Pak much useful information in story form. 

One day, when the time came for the usual 
history lesson, Wang Ken said to Yung Pak : 

“ I think that to-day I will tell you the 
story of King Taijo.* 

At this Yung Pak’s eyes sparkled, and he 
was all attention in a moment. He thought 
one of Wang Ken’s stories was a great deal 
better than puzzling over Korean letters or 
struggling with long strings of figures. The 
tutor went on : 

“ When Taijo was born, many, many years 
ago, our country was not called Korea, but 
had been given the name of Cho-sen.” 

Yung Pak had been told that Cho-sen 
meant Morning Calm, so he asked Wang Ken 


A Lesson in History 37 

how it came about that such a peaceful name 
had been given to his country. 

“ Why,” said Wang Ken, cc the name was 
given to our land years and years ago by the 
leader of some Chinese settlers, whose name 
was Ki Tsze. In his native land there had 
been much violence and war, so with his 
friends and followers he moved to the east- 
ward and selected this country for his home. 
Here he hoped to be free from the attacks of 
enemies and to be able to live a peaceful life. 
For this reason he chose a name which well 
expressed its outward position — toward the 
rising sun — and his own inward feelings, — 
Cho-sen, or Morning Calm. This is still the 
official name of our country. 

<c But to come back to our story of Taijo. 
At the time of his birth, the rulers of the 
country were very unpopular because of their 
wickedness and oppression of the people. 
There was much suffering on account of the 


38 Our Little Korean Cousin 


misrule, and the people longed for a deliverer 
who should restore prosperity to Cho-sen. 

cc Such a deliverer appeared in the person of 
Taijo. It is said that even as a boy he sur- 
passed his fellows in goodness, intelligence, 
and skill in all sorts of boyish games. ,, 

Wang Ken improved this opportunity to 
tell Yung Pak how important it was that all 
boys should follow such an example. 

But while Yung Pak listened with apparent 
patience, he could hardly conceal his inward 
desire that the tutor would go on with his 
story. Like most boys, of all races, he felt 
that he could get along without the moralizing. 

Cf Hunting with the falcon was one of 
Taijo’s favourite sports. One day, while in 
the woods, his bird flew so far ahead that its 
young master lost sight of it. Hurrying on 
to find it, Taijo discovered a hut beside the 
path, into which he saw the falcon fly. 

“ Entering the hut, the youth found a 


A Lesson in History 39 

white-bearded hermit priest, who lived here 
alone and unknown to the outside world. 
For a moment Taijo was speechless with sur- 
prise in the presence of the wise old hermit. 

“ Seeing his embarrassment, the old man 
spoke to him in these words : 

“ c What benefit is it for a youth of your 
abilities to be seeking a stray falcon ? A 
throne is a richer prize. Betake yourself at 
once to the capital/ 

cc Now Taijo knew how to take a hint as 
well as any boy, so he immediately left the 
hut of the hermit, forsaking his falcon, and 
went to Sunto, then the capital of the king- 
dom. 

“ As I have already told you, Taijo was a 
wise youth. He did not rush headlong into 
the accomplishment of the purpose hinted at 
by the hermit. Had he done so, and at that 
time attempted to dethrone the king, he would 
certainly have been overpowered and slain. 


40 Our Little Korean Cousin 

“He took a more deliberate and sensible 
way. First he enlisted in the army of the 
king. As he was a young man of courage 
and strength, he was not long in securing 
advancement. He rapidly rose through the 
various grades, until he finally held the chief 
command of the army as lieutenant-general. 

“ Of course Taijo did not reach this high 
station in a month, nor in a year, but many 
years went by before he attained such an ex- 
alted place. Meanwhile he married and had 
children. Several of these children were 
daughters.” 

Wang Ken did not say right here, what he 
might have said with truth, — that in Korean 
families girls are considered of very little con- 
sequence. But in this case Taijo’s daughter 
proved to be of much help in making her 
father the king of Cho-sen. 

“ One of these daughters was married to the 
reigning king. Thus Taijo became father-in- 


4i 


A Lesson in History 

law to his sovereign. You can easily see that 
in this relationship he must have had a large 
influence both over the king and over the 
people. 

cc Being a brave man and courageous fighter, 
Taijo was idolized by his soldiers. He was 
also very popular with all the people because 
he was always strictly honest and just in all his 
dealings with them. 

“ Taijo proved his bravery and his reliance 
on the soldiers and on the people by attempt- 
ing to bring about a change in the conduct of 
the king, who abused his power and treated 
his subjects without mercy. 

“ The king, however, refused to listen to 
the advice of his father-in-law, and, as a con- 
sequence, the hatred of the people for him 
grew in volume and force every day. 

“ Meanwhile, the king was having other 
troubles. In former years, Korea had paid an 
annual tribute or tax to China, but for some 


42 Our Little Korean Cousin 

time it had been held back by this king. 
Consequently the Chinese (or Ming) em- 
peror sent a large army to enforce his demand 
for the amount of money due him. 

“ The Korean ruler neglected the matter 
and finally refused to pay. He then ordered 
that more soldiers be added to his army, that 
the Chinese forces might be resisted ; but with 
all his efforts the enemy's army was much the 
larger. Nevertheless, he ordered Taijo, at the 
head of his forces, to attack the Chinese. 
Upon this, Taijo thus addressed his soldiers : 

cc c Although the order from the king must 
be obeyed, yet the attack upon the Ming sol- 
diers, with so small an army as ours, is like 
casting an egg against a rock, and no one of us 
will return alive. I do not tell you this from 
any fear of death, but our king is too haughty. 
He does not heed our advice. He has ordered 
out the army suddenly without cause, paying 
no attention to the suffering which wives and 


A Lesson in History 43 

children of the soldiers must undergo. This 
is a thing I cannot bear. Let us go back to 
the capital, and the responsibility shall fall on 
my shoulders alone/ 

“ The soldiers were quite willing to take the 
advice of their courageous leader, and resolved 
to obey his orders rather than the king’s. 
They went to the capital, forcibly removed 
the king from his throne, and banished him to 
the island of Kang-wa. 

“ Not yet, however, was Taijo made king. 
The deposed ruler plotted and planned all 
kinds of schemes whereby he might be restored 
to his old position of authority. Taijo heard 
of some of his plots, and finally did that which 
would for ever extinguish the authority of the 
old king or any of his family. He removed 
from the temple the tablets on which were 
inscribed the names of the king’s ancestors. 
More than this, he ordered that no more 
sacrifices be offered to them. 


44 Our Little Korean Cousin 


“ The king could have suffered no greater 
insult than this, for, like all Koreans, he held 
as sacred the memory of his ancestors, and 
even to speak ill of one of them was an unpar- 
donable crime. But this time he was power- 
less to resent the indignity or to punish the 
offender, and consequently he lost what little 
influence he had been able to retain. 

“Taijo was now formally proclaimed king. 
He was able to make peace with the Chinese 
emperor, and under his rule the Koreans en- 
joyed freedom from war and oppression. His 
descendants still sit upon the throne of Korea.” 


CHAPTER VI. 

THE MONK’S STORY 

One evening, after Yung Pak had finished 
his supper, he sat talking with his father and 
Wang Ken. 

The early evening hour was often spent in 
this way. It was a time of day when Ki Pak 
was generally free from any official duty, and 
he was glad to devote a little time to his son. 
He would inquire about the boy’s studies as 
well as about his sports, and Yung Pak would 
regale his father with many an amusing inci- 
dent or tell him something he had learned 
during study hours. Sometimes he would tell 
of the sights he had seen on the streets of 


45 


46 Our Little Korean Cousin 


Seoul, while on other occasions he would 
give account of games with his playmates 
or of his success in shooting with a bow and 
arrow. 

This latter sport was very common with the 
men and boys of Korea. It was approved by 
the king for the national defence in time of 
war, and often rewards were offered by rich 
men for winners in contests. Most Korean 
gentlemen had private archery grounds and 
targets in the gardens near their houses. 

Ki Pak had an arrow-walk and target 
in his garden, and here it was that Yung 
Pak used to practise almost daily. He often, 
too, invited other boys to enjoy the sport with 
him. 

At regular times every year public contests 
in arrow-shooting were held, and costly prizes 
were offered to the winners by the king. The 
prizes were highly valued by those who se- 
cured them, and Yung Pak looked forward 


The Monks Story 


47 


with eager anticipation to the day when he 
should be old enough and skilful enough to 
take part in these contests. 

While Yung Pak was listening to the con- 
versation between his father and tutor on this 
evening, a knock was heard. 

On opening the door there was seen stand- 
ing at the entrance a man rather poorly clad in 
the white garments worn by nearly all the 
people of Korea. But upon his head, instead 
of the ordinary cone-shaped hat worn by the 
men of the country, was a very peculiar struc- 
ture. It was made of straw and was about 
four feet in circumference. Its rim nearly 
concealed the man’s face, which was further 
hidden by a piece of coarse white linen 
cloth stretched upon two sticks and made fast 
just below the eyes. 

This method of concealing the face, together 
with the wearing of the immense hat, was a 
symbol of mourning. Such a sight was not 


48 Our Little Korean Cousin 


uncommon in the streets of Seoul, and Yung 
Pak knew well its meaning. 

With great courtesy and hospitality Ki Pak 
invited the stranger within the house. 

“ I thank you for your kindness,” said the 
visitor. “ I am a stranger in your city, a monk 
from a monastery in Kong-chiu. Your peculiar 
law not allowing men upon the street after 
nightfall compels me to seek shelter.” 

“To that you are entirely welcome, my 
friend,” said Ki Pak, whose hospitable nature 
would have granted the monk's request, even 
if sympathy for sorrow and reverence for 
religion had not also been motives for his 
action. 

“ Let me get the man something to eat,” 
said Yung Pak as the monk seated himself 
upon a mat. 

cc Certainly, my son ; it is always proper to 
offer food to a guest who takes refuge under 
our roof.” 


The Monks Story 


49 


Quickly the boy sought his mother in the 
women’s apartments, and very soon returned 
with a steaming bowl of rice, which he placed 
before the visitor. 

This gift of rice was especially pleasing to 
the traveller, as no dish is held in higher 
honour in Korea. It is the chief cereal, and 
the inhabitants say it originated in Ha-ram, 
China, nearly five thousand years ago. Yung 
Pak called it Syang-nong-si, which means 
Marvellous Agriculture. He had learned from 
Wang Ken that it was first brought to Korea 
in 1122 b. c. 

To the monk the warm food was very re- 
freshing, and after he had eaten a generous 
amount he entered into conversation with his 
hosts. 

He told of the monastery where he made 
his home, and his account of the various 
religious ceremonies and their origin was very 
interesting to Yung Pak, who found that the 


50 Our Little Korean Cousin 

visitor not only knew a great deal of the 
history of the country, but was also familiar 
with its fables and legends. 

Like many who live in retirement and dwell 
in a world apart from their fellows, this monk 
thought the people of former times were 
superior to the men of his own day. Especially 
did he praise the kings of years long gone by. 

“ Do you think,” said Yung Pak, “ that the 
old kings were any better than our own gra- 
cious ruler ? ” 

Yung Pak was very jealous of the honour 
of his king. 

“ Why, yes,” replied the monk. cc And to 
prove my statement let me tell you a story : 

“ Many years ago there was in Cho-sen a 
king named Cheng-chong. He was celebrated 
throughout his kingdom for his goodness. It 
was a habit with him to disguise himself in 
ordinary clothing and then to go out and 
mingle with the common people. In this way 


The Monks Story 51 

he was often able to discover opportunities for 
doing much good to his subjects. 

“ One night Cheng-chong disguised himself 
as a countryman, and, taking a single friend 
along, started out to make a tour of inspection 
among his people, that he might learn the 
details of their lives. 

“ Coming to a dilapidated-looking house, he 
suspected that within there might be miserable 
people to whom he could render assistance. 
Desiring to see the inside of the house, he 
punched a peep-hole in the paper door. Look- 
ing through this hole, the king perceived an 
old man weeping, a man in mourning garb 
singing, and a nun or widow dancing. 

“ Cheng-chong was unable to imagine the 
cause of these strange proceedings, so he asked 
his companion to call the master of the house. 

“ In answer to the summons, the man in 
mourning made his appearance. The king, 
with low and respectful salutation, said : 


52 Our Little Korean Cousin 

“ c We have never before met/ 

“‘True/ was the reply, c but whence are 
you ? How is it that you should come to find 
me at midnight? To what family do you 
belong ? * 

“ Cheng-chong answered : c I am Mr. Ni, 
living at Tong-ku-an. As I was passing before 
your house I was attracted by strange sounds. 
Then through a hole in the door I saw an old 
man crying, a dancing nun, and a man in 
mourning singing. Why did the nun dance, 
the bereaved man sing, and the old man weep ? 
I have called you out on purpose to learn the 
reason of these things/ 

“‘For what reason do you pry into other 
people's business ? ’ was the question in reply. 
‘This is little concern to you. It is past 
midnight now, and you had better get home 
as soon as you can.' 

“ ‘ No, indeed. I admit that it seems wrong 
for me to be so curious in regard to your affairs, 


53 


The Monks Story 

but this case is so very extraordinary that I 
hope you will not refuse to tell me about it. 
You may be sure that I shall not betray your 
confidence/ 

“ c Alas ! why such persistence in trying to 
learn about other people’s business ? ’ 

ccc It is very important/ replied the king, 
c that I should obtain the information I have 
asked of you. Further than that I cannot 
explain at present.’ ” 

Yung Pak wanted to interrupt the story- 
teller here and say that he did not blame the 
man for objecting to telling his private busi- 
ness, but he had early been taught that it was 
highly improper for a Korean boy to break 
into the conversation of his elders. 

The monk continued : 

“ c As you are so urgent in your desire to 
know the cause of the strange proceedings you 
have witnessed, I will try to tell you. Poverty 
has always been a burden upon my family. 


54 Our Little Korean Cousin 

In my house there has never been sufficient 
food for a solid meal, and I have not land 
enough even for an insect to rest upon. I 
cannot even provide food for my poor old 
father. This is the reason why my wife, from 
time to time, has cut off a portion of her hair 
and sold it for an amount sufficient to buy a 
bowl of bean soup, which she has generously 
given to my father. This evening she cut off 
and sold the last tress of her hair, and thus 
she is now bald as a nun.’ ” 

Yung Pak already knew that Korean women 
who devote their lives to religious service kept 
their hair closely clipped, so the monk did not 
need to explain his reference to a bald-headed 
nun. 

“ c On this account,’ said the man to Cheng- 
chong, ‘ my father broke out into mourning in 
these words : 

“ c “ Why have I lived to this age ? Why 
did I not die years ago ? Why has this degra- 


55 


The Monk’s Story 

dation come to my daughter-in-law?” Tears 
accompanied his words. My wife and I tried 
to console him, and, besides urging him not to 
weep, she danced for his amusement. I also 
danced and sang, and thus we diverted the old 
man’s thoughts and caused him to smile. 
That is the true reason of our queer behaviour. 
I trust you will not think it strange, and will 
now go away and leave us to our sorrow.’ 

“ The king was very much impressed by the 
man’s story, particularly with the evidence of 
such great devotion to his father, even in the 
time of poverty and misfortune. So he said: 
c This is really the most extraordinary instance 
of filial love that I ever saw. I think you 
should present yourself at the examination 
to-morrow.’ 

“ c What examination ? * 

“ c Why, there is to be an examination before 
the king of candidates for official position. 
You know that all officials have to pass an 


56 Our Little Korean Cousin 

examination before they can receive an ap- 
pointment. Be sure to be there, and you may 
be fortunate enough to secure a position which 
will remove all fear of poverty from your 
household/ 

“ Having thus spoken, Cheng-chong bade 
the man good night and went at once to his 
palace. 

“Very early in the morning he caused proc- 
lamation to be made that an examination would 
be held that day, at a certain hour. Notwith- 
standing the brief time for preparation, when 
the hour arrived a large number of men pre- 
sented themselves at the king’s palace as can- 
didates. 

“In the crowd was the poor man whom the 
king, in his disguise, had talked with the night 
before. Though he understood little of the 
matter, he felt that his visitor of the previous 
night must have known perfectly about it. 

“ When all had assembled, the following 


The Monks Story 


57 


was announced as the subject of the examina- 
tion : c The song of a man in mourning, the 
dance of a nun, the tears of an old man.’ 

“ With the exception of the poor man, not 
a single one of the candidates was able to 
make a bit of sense out of the subject. He 
alone knew it perfectly well, because of his 
own personal sad experience. Consequently 
he was able to turn in a clear essay upon the 
subject, which, upon examination, the king 
found to be free from error. 

£C Cheng-chong then bestowed the degree of 
doctor upon the man, and ordered that he be 
brought into his presence. 

££ Upon the man’s appearance, the king 
asked: £ Do you know who I am? It is I 
who last night advised you to be present at 
this examination. Raise your head and look 
at me.’ 

££ With fixed gaze the man looked at the 
king, and recognized his benefactor. He at 


58 Our Little Korean Cousin 


once bowed himself to the ground in gratitude, 
and in words of the most humble sort returned 
his thanks. 

“ c Go at once/ said Cheng-chong, c and 
return to your wife and old father. Make 
them happy with the good news you have for 
them/ 

“ This story of royal generosity has been 
handed down from generation to generation, 
and I give it to you,” concluded the monk, 
cc as an example of the goodness of our ancient 
kings and the rich inheritance we have from 
them. True devotion to parents has never 
been unrewarded in Korea.” 

His story concluded, the monk expressed a 
desire to retire for the night. At Ki Pak’s 
command a servant led him to a sleeping- 
room. Yung Pak and the other members of 
the family also retired, and were soon buried in 
peaceful slumber. 


CHAPTER VII. 


A JOURNEY 

It sometimes happened that Ki Pak, in 
performing his official duties, was obliged to 
make long journeys to various parts of Korea. 
One of Yung Pak’s greatest pleasures was 
to listen to the stories which his father used 
to tell him about these journeys. 

When Ki Pak made one of these trips 
through the country he could not ride on the 
cars as you do, for there were no railways, 
with puffing engines and comfortable coaches ; 
neither could he take a carriage drawn by 
swift and strong horses, for they too were 
unknown by the Koreans. Even if he had 
possessed horses and carriage, there were few 
roads over which they could have been driven. 


59 


60 Our Little Korean Cousin 

Most of the highways were simply rough 
paths, over which men usually travelled on 
foot or on the backs of ponies up and down 
the hills of the country. It was generally 
necessary to cross rivers by fording, though, 
where the water was too deep for this, rude 
and clumsy ferry-boats were provided. Occa- 
sionally, over a narrow stream, a frail foot- 
bridge would be built. 

You can easily imagine Yung Pak’s joy and 
surprise one day when his father told him that 
he proposed to take his little son on his next 
journey. 

Ki Pak had been ordered by the king to go 
to Chang-an-sa, a city among the Diamond 
Mountains, near the eastern coast of Korea, 
and about eighty miles from Seoul. In this 
place was a famous monastery, or temple, 
which would be an object of much interest 
and wonder to Yung Pak. 

It was decided, also, that Wang Ken should 


A Journey 


61 


be one of the party. He would be able to 
explain to Yung Pak many things they might 
see on the way. 

There was much to do to get ready for the 
journey. It would take four days to cover 
the distance, and, as hotels were unknown 
along the route, it was necessary to take along 
a good supply of provisions, bedding, cooking 
utensils, and all sorts of things they might 
need while absent from home. 

In addition to getting together all this 
material, ponies and drivers had to be en- 
gaged. Sometimes, when Ki Pak went on 
short journeys, he was carried in a chair by 
strong men, who by much practice had be- 
come able to endure the fatigue of travel, and 
of bearing heavy burdens. This chair was 
very different from the kind you have in your 
houses. Even a comfortable rocker would 
not be very nice in which to take a long 
journey. 


62 Our Little Korean Cousin 


The Korean traveller’s chair consists of a 
boxlike frame, of such height that one may 
sit within in Turkish fashion upon the floor. 
The roof is of bamboo, covered with painted 
and oiled paper. The sides also are covered 
with oiled paper or muslin. In some cases 
a small stained glass window is set in the side 
or front, but only rich men can afford this 
luxury. The curtain in front can be raised 
or lowered. This serves the double purpose 
of shutting out the glances of the curious and 
keeping out the cold air. When the owner 
can afford it, an ample supply of cushions and 
shawls makes the clumsy vehicle more com- 
fortable for its occupant. 

The chair rests upon two long poles, which 
hang by straps upon the shoulders of four 
stout men. Under ordinary circumstances 
these men can travel with their burden from 
twenty to thirty miles a day. 

Sometimes, also, when Yung Pak’s father 


63 


A Journey 

went about the streets of Seoul, he rode in 
a chair very similar to the one just described. 
The only difference was that it rested on a 
framework attached to a single wheel directly 
underneath. This cross between a wheel- 
barrow and a sedan-chair was supported and 
trundled along the street by four bearers. 

On this journey, however, Yung Pak and 
his companions were to ride on ponies. 

The Korean ponies are small, fine-coated 
animals, little larger than Shetland ponies. 
They are very tough and strong, and can en- 
dure long marches with little food. They are 
sometimes obstinate and are desperate fighters, 
squealing and neighing on all occasions. They 
often attack other ponies, and never become 
friendly with each other on a journey. In 
their attacks upon one another loads are for- 
gotten and often seriously damaged. Not- 
withstanding, they bear with much patience 
a great deal of abuse from unkind masters. 


64 Our Little Korean Cousin 

Because of much beating and overloading, 
they are generally a sorry-looking lot of 
animals. 

Ki Pak had to engage ponies for himself, 
Yung Pak, and Wang Ken. He was also 
obliged to employ a cook for the journey, 
who had to have a pony to carry along the 
kettles and pans and other utensils. It was 
also necessary to hire body-servants and sev- 
eral ponies to carry luggage, and as each pony 
must have a mapu , or groom, it made quite a 
procession when the party started out of Seoul 
on the journey to the northeast. 

It was a fine day when the start was made. 
It was not early in the morning, for, if there 
is anything a Korean hates to do, it is to make 
an early start on a journey. If you had been 
in Yung Pak’s place, you would have gone 
crazy with impatience. The servants were 
late in bringing around the ponies, and the 
process of loading them was a very slow one. 


A Journey 


65 


But Yung Pak had long before learned to 
be patient under such circumstances. In fact, 
he seemed to care little whether the start were 
made in the morning or at noon. He calmly 
watched the servants at their work, and, when 
at last all was declared ready, he gravely 
mounted his pony and fell into the procession 
behind his father, with Wang Ken immediately 
following. 

A most comical sight was the cook, perched 
on top of his load of pans, pots, and pota- 
toes. As his pony trotted along with the 
others, it looked as if the cook was in con- 
stant danger of a fall from his lofty seat, but 
he sat as calm and unconcerned as one could 
imagine. 

You would laugh if you should see the 
strings of eggs hanging across this pony’s 
back — yes, eggs. They were packed in 
bands of wheat straw, and between each pair 
of eggs a straw was twisted. Thus a straw 


66 Our Little Korean Cousin 


rope enclosing twenty or more eggs, well 
protected, was made and thrown over the top 
of the load. 

Other riders had more comfortable seats, 
for most of the ponies carried baggage in two 
wicker baskets, — one strapped upon each side, 
— and on top of these was piled bedding and 
wadded clothing, which made a soft seat for 
the rider. 

The mapus who accompanied the procession 
were dressed in short cotton jackets, loose 
trousers, with sandals and cotton wrappings 
upon the feet. They had to step lively to 
keep up with the ponies. 

All the people in this company carried with 
them long garments made of oiled paper. 
You have already learned that the Korean 
paper is very tough, and when soaked with oil 
it forms a splendid protecdon against the rain. 
Many of these garments had a very peculiar 
appearance, because they were made of paper 


A Journey 


67 


on which had been set copies for schoolboys 
to use in learning to write. 

As Yung Pak and his companions passed 
along the dirty streets of Seoul toward a gate 
in the great wall, a curious crowd was attracted 
by the unusual sight. This mob of men and 
boys were good-natured, but very curious, and 
it gathered so close as to impede the progress 
of the ponies. Moreover, a watchful eye had 
to be kept on all the luggage, lest some over- 
covetous person might steal the provisions and 
supplies on the ponies’ backs. 

Notwithstanding the slow progress made by 
Ki Pak’s company, it took only a short time 
to pass through the narrow streets and out by 
the great gate, leaving behind the noisy mob 
of men and boys who had followed them to 
the city’s wall. 

Once outside, upon the road which wound 
around and over the high hills that surround 
the city, the pure country air seemed very sweet 


68 Our Little Korean Cousin 


and refreshing to Yung Pak, who knew noth- 
ing of life outside Seoul. This was his first 
journey into the country, and the many strange 
sights drew exclamations of surprise and won- 
der from him. The green waving grass and 
swaying foliage of the trees were ever new 
sources of joy and pleasure, and the delicate 
odours which the breezes bore to his sensitive 
nostrils were refreshing and life-giving. 

Among the strange sights which attracted 
Yung Pak’s attention, as they rode along 
through the country, were some very curious 
figures erected by the roadside. These were 
posts, one side of which was roughly planed. 
On the upper part of each of these posts was 
a rude carving of a hideous human face with 
prominent teeth. The cheeks and teeth were 
slightly coloured. A most fiendish appearance 
was presented by these figures, called by the 
Koreans syou-sal-mak-i , and if looks counted 
for anything, they ought well to serve their 



“ ON THE UPPER PART OF EACH OF THESE POSTS WAS 

A RUDE CARVING ” 









































A Journey 


69 


purpose, — the scaring away of evil spirits 
from the village near which the figures always 
stood. The mile-posts, or fjang-seung , along 
the way were often similarly decorated. 

Another curiosity by the wayside which led 
to wonder on Yung Pak’s part was an old 
trunk of a tall tree. For about thirty feet 
from the ground this was painted in col- 
oured stripes very much like a barber’s pole. 
The top and branches of the tree had been 
trimmed off, and the upper end was rudely 
carved in a shape representing a dragon 
with a forked tail. From the head, which 
resembled that of an alligator, hung various 
cords, to which were attached small brass bells 
and a wooden fish. Wang Ken told Yung Pak 
that this was a monument to some famous 
Korean “ doctor of literature.” 

On the first day’s journey toward Chang- 
an-sa the party made good progress. The 
plan was to get to Yong-pyong, about twenty 


70 Our Little Korean Cousin 

miles from Seoul, before nightfall. To you 
this would seem a short day’s journey, but 
when it is remembered that many of the serv- 
ants were on foot, and that the little ponies 
were heavily loaded, it does not seem so 
strange that more ground could not be covered 
in one day. In addition, in many places the 
roads were poor, though in the valleys there 
was a smooth bottom where the sand had 
washed down from the hills. 

On some of these hillsides little villages 
were perched. Yung Pak noticed that on the 
upper side of each of these hill-towns was a 
moon-shaped wall. 

“What is that wall for?” he asked Wang 
Ken as they passed one. 

“ That protects the village in time of rain- 
storms,” replied the tutor. “ The soil here is 
of such a nature that it easily washes away, 
and if the town were unprotected the earth 
would soon be swept from beneath the houses. 


A Journey 


71 


If you will look sharply, you will see outside 
the wall a deep trench which carries off the 
rushing water.” 

As they were slowly riding along a road 
which wound around and over a high hill 
Yung Pak still kept his eyes wide open for 
strange sights. Suddenly he lifted his arm, 
and, pointing toward a tree upon a little 
hill at one side of the road, he said to 
Wang Ken : 

cc Oh, what a queer-looking tree that is ! 
And are not those strange leaves on it? What 
kind of a tree is it, anyway ? ” 

“ Ha, ha ! ” laughed Wang Ken, cc I don’t 
wonder that you call that a strange-looking 
tree. Let’s take a walk up to it and get a 
closer view.” 

So the ponies were halted, and down sprang 
Yung Pak and Wang Ken. Leaving the 
ponies in charge of the mapus , they marched 
up the hill to get a nearer sight of the tree. 


72 Our Little Korean Cousin 

“Why,” said the boy, as they approached 
it, “ those are not leaves that we saw from the 
road, but they are rags and strips of cloth. 
It looks as if some one had hung out their 
clothes to dry and forgotten to take them in 
again. What does it all mean ? ” 

“ That tree, my boy,” Wang Ken replied, 
“is called the sacred devil-tree. That is a 
queer combination of names, but you know 
there are a lot of ignorant people in our country 
who are very superstitious. They believe in 
all sorts of evil and good spirits. They think 
these spirits watch every act of their lives. 
Consequently they do all they can to please 
the good spirits and to drive away the evil 
ones. This tree they believe has power to 
keep off the bad spirits, so every man who 
thinks that a demon has possession of him 
tears a piece of cloth from his garment and 
carefully ties it to a branch. That is how all 
these strips you see come to be hanging above 


A Journey 73 

you. Some have hung there so long that the 
wind and rain have torn them to rags.” 

“ Yes, but why is this done ? ” asked Yung 
Pak. 

“ Because,” was the reply, “ a man who is 
possessed by an evil spirit thinks that by thus 
tying a part of his clothing to the tree he 
may induce the spirit to attach himself to it 
instead of to his own person.” 

Yung Pak’s curiosity satisfied, they returned 
to the road, mounted their ponies, and quickly 
caught up with the rest of the party. 

No further incidents of special importance 
marked this first day’s journey, and shortly 
before nightfall they arrived at the town of 
Yong-pyong. They found the village inn to 
be a series of low, small buildings built on 
three sides of a courtyard. Into low sheds in 
this yard the ponies were crowded and the 
luggage removed from their backs. Ki Pak’s 
servants proceeded to build a fire in the centre 


74 Our Little Korean Cousin 


of the yard and the cook made preparations 
for getting supper. Travellers had to provide 
a large part of their own meals, for, as already 
stated, these village inns were not hotels in the 
real sense of the word. They were simply 
rude lodging-places where travellers might be 
protected from the night air and have a chance 
to sleep while passing through the country. 

Into the main waiting-room of the inn Yung 
Pak, with his father and tutor, entered. At 
the door they removed their shoes and left 
them outside. In the room were several other 
travellers seated upon the floor, which was 
covered with oiled paper and grass mats. 
There was absolutely no furniture. The walls 
were covered with clean white paper. Each 
man in the room was smoking a pipe, which 
consisted of a brass bowl and a reed stem 
over three feet long. All wore long white 
robes, though one of the occupants had hung 
his hat upon the wall. 


A Journey 


75 


Into this room after a time the cook brought 
supper for his masters. Other servants brought 
in boxes which were used as tables, and though 
the style was not just what Yung Pak was used 
to, he managed to eat a hearty meal. The 
day in the open air had given him a hunger 
and a zest he rarely knew. 

After supper, for a short time Yung Pak 
and Wang Ken talked over with Ki Pak the 
events of the day. A servant soon announced 
that their sleeping-rooms were ready, and they 
gladly at once sought their beds. To get to 
their rooms they again stepped out into the 
courtyard. They found that each bedroom 
was one of the little buildings facing the yard. 
Yung Pak and Wang Ken occupied one room, 
while Ki Pak had a room by himself. Through 
a narrow door about three feet high the lad and 
his tutor entered their room. The door was 
simply a lattice shutter covered with paper. 
The room was very small, — barely space for 


76 Our Little Korean Cousin 

the two mattresses which had been put there 
by the servants, and the ceiling was so low that 
even the short Koreans could hardly stand 
upright. Yet here our two friends managed 
to make themselves very comfortable for the 
night. 

Outside in the courtyard the fire was kept 
burning, beside which two watchmen sat all 
night smoking and telling stories. It was 
necessary to maintain a watch till morning 
because the country districts of Korea are 
infested with wild animals, particularly tigers, 
and the bright blaze of the fire served to keep 
them at a distance. Otherwise the thin-walled 
houses would have been slight protection for 
the sleeping travellers. 

As it was, Yung Pak slept soundly the 
whole night, and did not awake until after 
daylight, when servants brought to his door a 
wooden bowl and a brass vessel full of water 
for his morning bath. Quickly he sprang up, 



“THE DAY WAS PASSED IN MUCH THE SAME 

THE PRECEDING ONE ” 


MANNER AS 




A Journey 


77 


and with his companions made ready for the 
day’s journey, for they were all anxious to be 
on their way. 

Breakfast was served in much the same 
manner as the supper of the previous evening 
had been. Of this meal all heartily partook, 
for a Korean is never guilty of having a poor 
appetite. 

As usual, it took a long time to get the 
ponies properly loaded and ready to start, and 
the forenoon was about half-gone when the 
procession finally left the courtyard of the 
inn. 

A twenty-mile march would bring the party 
to Rang-chyon, where it was proposed to 
spend the second night of the journey. 

The day was passed in much the same 
manner as the preceding one, though of course 
new scenes proved ever interesting to Yung 
Pak. During this day the party had to cross 
a river which was too deep to ford, and over 


78 Our Little Korean Cousin 


which there was no sort of bridge. For the 
assistance of travellers a ferry-boat had been 
provided. This boat was a broad, flat-bot- 
tomed, clumsy affair. It could carry but three 
ponies at a time, with several men. The men 
in charge of the boat were slow and obstinate, 
and consequently it took a long time for all to 
get across the river. 

It was right here that an unfortunate, yet 
laughable, accident occurred. 

As on the preceding day, the cook rode 
perched upon his pony’s load of kettles, pans, 
and pots. When riding along a good road 
his position was precarious enough, requiring 
all his best efforts to maintain his balance. 

When his turn came to go upon the ferry- 
boat, Ki Pak advised him to dismount and 
lead his pony across the plank which covered 
the watery space between the bank of the 
river and the boat. But the cook was an 
obstinate Korean, as well as a trifle lazy, and 


79 


A Journey 

refused to get down, thinking he could safely 
drive his beast across the gang-plank. Ordi- 
narily this would have been possible, but on 
this particular occasion, just as the pony 
stepped upon the plank, the boat gave a lurch, 
the plank slipped, and overboard went pony, 
cook, and all. For a few moments there was 
enough bustle and excitement to suit any one. 
Fortunately, the water was not deep, and 
quickly the drenched animal and man were 
pulled from the water. The only permanent 
harm was to some of the provisions that were 
a part of the pony’s load. The cook was a 
wiser as well as a wet man, and made up his 
mind that the next time he would heed the 
advice to dismount when boarding a ferry- 
boat. 

The day’s journey was completed without 
further special incident, and at night they 
rested in the inn at Rang-chyon under condi- 
tions much the same as at Yong-pyong. 


8o Our Little Korean Cousin 


The third day’s journey brought the com- 
pany to Kewen-syong. On the way thither 
Yung Pak was much interested in the sights 
of the country, which grew wilder and more 
strange the farther they got from Seoul. On 
this day numerous highwaymen were met, but 
they dared not molest the travellers on account 
of the large number in the party. 

The cabins along the country roads were a 
continual source of curiosity to Yung Pak. 
They were built of mud, without windows, and 
no door except a screen of cords. In nearly 
every doorway would be sitting a man, smok- 
ing a long-stemmed pipe, who looked with 
wide-open eyes at the unusual procession 
passing his house. 

Of course all the men who lived in these 
country cabins were farmers, and Yung Pak 
liked to watch them as they worked in their 
fields, for to the city-bred boy this is always 
an entrancing sight. What seemed most cu- 


A Journey 81 

rious to him was the fact that women were also 
at work in the fields. At his home the women 
of the family nearly always stayed in their own 
apartments, and when they did go out always 
went heavily veiled. These country women 
not only assisted in the farm work, but they 
had to do all the spinning and weaving for 
the family, in addition to usual household 
cares. 

Wang Ken was able to tell Yung Pak much 
about country life, for, like most of the school- 
masters of Korea, he was himself a farmer’s 
son. He told how the Korean farmer lived 
a simple, patient life, while at the same time 
he was ignorant and superstitious. He be- 
lieved in demons, spirits, and dragons, and in 
nearly every house were idols in honour of the 
imaginary deities. 

Pigs and bulls are the chief animals on 
Korean farms. The latter are used as beasts 
of burden, though occasionally a more pros- 


8 2 Our Little Korean Cousin 


perous man may own a pony or a donkey. 
The farming tools are extremely rude and 
simple, thus necessitating the labour of several 
men or women where one man could do the 
work with good tools. 

While travelling along Yung Pak met several 
hunters. They were not an uncommon sight 
on the streets of Seoul. When in the city 
they wore a rough felt conical hat and dark 
blue cotton robe. The garments were ugly 
in appearance and inconvenient. When the 
hunters were after game the robe was discarded, 
and its place taken by a short wadded jacket, 
its sleeves bound around the arms over wadded 
cuffs which reached from wrist to elbow. In 
a similar way the trousers were bound to the 
calf of the hunter's leg, and light straw 
sandals over a long piece of cotton cloth were 
strapped to the feet and ankles. A huge 
string game-bag was slung over his back, and 
in an antelope’s horn or a crane’s bill bullets 


A Journey 83 

were carried. Powder was kept dry in a tor- 
toise-shaped case of leather or oiled paper. 

Yung Pak’s father would have been glad 
to have taken time for seeking game with 
some of these hunters, but the business of his 
trip prevented any unnecessary delay on the 
journey. 


CHAPTER VIII. 


THE MONASTERY AT CHANG - AN - SA 

In the latter part of the afternoon of the 
fourth day, our travellers, weary and worn with 
the long journey, came in sight of Chang- 
an-sa, the Temple of Eternal Rest, one of the 
oldest monasteries of Korea, where hundreds 
of monks devoted their lives to the service of 
Buddha. 

The temple buildings, with deep curved 
roofs, are in a glorious situation on a small 
level lot of grassy land crowded between the 
high walls of a rocky ravine. 

Yung Pak was delighted at his first sight of 
the great temple and the surrounding buildings. 
Through the swaying branches of the forest- 
84 


The Monastery at Chang-an-sa 85 

trees he caught brief glimpses of the granite 
walls and turrets reddening in the sunset glow. 
The deepening gloom of the gorge was lighted 
by the slant beams of the setting sun, and on 
the water in the stream below flecks of foam 
sparkled and danced in the light of the dying 
day. 

At first conversation was out of the question 
in the presence of such a majestic display of 
nature’s wonders combined with the handiwork 
of man. 

Coming to a gate of red stone, Yung Pak 
asked the meaning of the carved arrow in the 
arch overhead. 

“ That arrow,” replied his father, <c signifies 
that the temples to which this gate is the outer 
entrance are under the patronage of the king. 
Wherever you see that sign, you may know 
that the king has a special interest, and his 
messengers will be treated with respect and 
hospitality. Consequently we may expect to 


86 Our Little Korean Cousin 


be well cared for during our visit to this 
place.” 

Passing through the gate, our friends found 
themselves at once in the midst of the Chang- 
an-sa monastery buildings. In addition to the 
great chief temple, there were many smaller 
places of worship, with bell and tablet houses. 
There were also cells and sleeping-rooms for 
the monks, servants* quarters, stables, a huge 
kitchen, and an immense dining-room, together 
with a large guest-hall and a nunnery. In 
addition there were several buildings devoted to 
the care of the aged, the infirm, and the sick. 
All these places, during his stay, Yung Pak 
visited in company with Wang Ken and 
guided by one of the monks. 

Besides the buildings already mentioned 
there were several houses that had been 
erected by the king on purpose for the use 
of his officials, and it was to one of these that 
Ki Pak and his son and Wang Ken were led 


The Monastery at Chang-an-sa 87 


by several of the priests of the monastery. In 
the meantime, the servants and the ponies 
were cared for in other places assigned for the 
purpose. 

Yung Pak was not sorry to arrive at his 
journey’s end, even though he had enjoyed 
himself every moment of the time since he left 
Seoul. A four days’ ride on the back of a 
pony will make the most enthusiastic traveller 
tired, and Yung Pak was glad to get to bed in 
the comfortable room provided just as soon as 
he had eaten his supper. His night’s sleep 
was a sound one, though at midnight, and 
again at four o’clock in the morning, he was 
awakened by the ringing of bells and gongs that 
called the monks to the worship of Buddha. 

In the morning Yung Pak awoke greatly 
refreshed, and, after a bountiful breakfast, he 
started out with Wang Ken, guided by a 
monk, to see the wonders of Chang-an-sa 
monastery. 


88 Our Little Korean Cousin 


One of the first things he noticed was the 
large number of boys about the place. He 
learned from the guide that these lads were 
all orphans who were being cared for by 
the priests, and who, later in life, would 
themselves become priests of Buddha. They 
were all bright and active, and were kept 
busily employed as waiters and errand-run- 
ners when they were not at work on their 
studies. Like most boys, however, they 
managed to get a generous share of time 
for play. 

It would be impossible to tell in detail about 
all the strange things Yung Pak saw at this 
monastery. The chief temple was an enor- 
mous structure of stone and tile and carved 
wood, all decorated in gorgeous combinations 
of red, green, gold, and white. 

Within this temple was one room called the 
“chamber of imagery.” Inside its darkened 
walls a single monk chanted his monotonous 


L. tr c. 


The Monastery at Chang-an-sa 89 

prayer before an altar. During the chant he 
also occupied himself by striking a small bell 
with a deer-horn. Bells played a great part in 
the worship at Chang-an-sa, and all the prayers 
were emphasized by the clanging of bells great 
or small. 

Along the shadowy walls of this room could 
be seen the weapons, as well as the eyes and 
teeth, the legs and arms, of gods and demons 
otherwise invisible. These had a ghostly 
effect on Yung Pak, and made him cling 
closely to the side of his tutor. 

Above the altar before which the priest 
knelt was an immense carving in imitation of 
an uprooted tree. Among the roots thus 
exposed were placed fifty-three idols in all 
kinds of positions. Beneath the carving were 
represented three fierce-looking dragons, on 
whose faces were signs of the most awful tor- 
ment and suffering. 

“ About this altar-piece,” said Yung Pak’s 


go Our Little Korean Cousin 

guide, “ there is a legend you might like to 
hear.” 

“ Oh, yes,” was the reply, “ tell us the story.” 

“ Many years ago,” began the guide, “ fifty- 
three Buddhist priests came from India to 
Korea for the purpose of converting the 
people to their belief. When they reached 
this place they were very tired, and sat 
down by a spring beneath the wide-spreading 
branches of a tree. They had not been there 
long when three dragons appeared and attacked 
the priests. During the contest the dragons 
called up a great wind which uprooted the 
tree. In return, each of the priests placed an 
image of Buddha on a tree-root, turning it 
into an altar. Thus they were able to over- 
come the dragons, who were forced into the 
spring. On top of them great stones were 
piled, and afterward the monastery of Chang- 
an-sa was built upon the site of the battle 
between the priests and the dragons.” 


The Monastery at Chang-an-sa 91 

Afterward Yung Pak visited the great kitch- 
ens, the dining-rooms, the stables, the private 
rooms of the monks, and every place which 
might be of interest to an inquisitive boy of 
his age. 

During the time he remained at Chang-an-sa 
he made several excursions into the surround- 
ing country, but always returning to the mon- 
astery at night. 

Meanwhile Ki Pak had transacted the busi- 
ness for which he came to this region, and at 
the end of ten days was ready to return to 
Seoul. 

Of this journey it is not necessary to tell. 
No mishap marred the pleasure of the trip, 
and all returned safe and sound to their home 
in the capital city of Korea. Yung Pak had 
enjoyed the journey very, very much, yet he 
was not sorry once more to be among the 
familiar scenes and surroundings of home. 


CHAPTER IX. 


A FULL-FLEDGED TOP - KNOT 

Like all Korean boys, Yung Pak wore his 
hair in two braids, and by the time he was 
twelve years old these had become very long, 
and hung in black and glossy plaits down his 
back. 

On the day that he was thirteen his father 
called him to his room and told the lad that 
the time had come for him to assume the dig- 
nities of a man. In accordance with that 
statement, he had decided that on the next 
day his son should be formally cc invested ” 
with the top-knot. In other words, the 
crown of his head was to be shaven, and his 
long hair tightly coiled upon the bare place 
thus made. This is called the <c Investiture 


92 


A Full-fledged Top-knot 93 

of the Top-knot/' and is always attended by 
solemn ceremonies. 

In preparation for this event Ki Pak had 
made careful and elaborate arrangements. He 
had provided for his son new clothes and a hat 
after the style of his own. He had also con- 
sulted an eminent astrologer, who had chosen 
the propitious day and hour for the ceremony 
after due consultation of the calendar and the 
stars and planets in their courses. 

Generally, if the father is blessed with good 
fortune and a number of sons, he acts as his 
own master of ceremonies on such an occasion, 
but as Ki Pak had only this one son he de- 
cided to ask his brother, Wu-pom Nai, who 
had several sons and was a prosperous mer- 
chant of Seoul, to fill this important position. 

Yung Pak could hardly wait for the morrow 
to come. So excited was he at the thought of 
the great honour that was to be his that he 
spent almost a sleepless night. However, like 


94 Our Little Korean Cousin 

all nights, long or short, this one passed, and 
the wished-for hour at last arrived. 

All the male members of the family were 
present. Korean women are reckoned of little 
importance and take no part in social and 
family affairs. On this occasion no men ex- 
cept relatives were asked to attend. 

Yung Pak was directed to seat himself on 
the floor in the centre of the room, facing the 
east. This was the point of compass revealed 
by the astrologer as most favourable to the 
young candidate for manly honours. 

With great deliberation and much formality 
Wu-pom Nai proceeded to loosen the boy’s 
heavy plaits of hair. Then with great care, 
while the onlookers watched with breathless 
interest, he shaved the crown of the lad’s head, 
making a bare circular spot about three inches 
in diameter. Over this spot he twisted all the 
remaining hair into a coil about four inches 
long, pointing slightly forward like a horn. 


A Full-fledged Top-knot 95 

Over the top-knot thus made the master of 
ceremonies placed the mang-kun , which was a 
crownless skull-cap made of a very delicate 
stiff* gauze. This was tied on very tightly, — 
so tightly that it made a deep ridge in Yung 
Pak’s forehead and gave him a severe headache ; 
but he bore the pain heroically and without 
flinching — for was he not now a man ? The 
regular Korean man’s hat, with its flapping 
wings, was next put on, and this part of the 
ceremony was complete. 

Yung Pak now rose from his position, and 
made a deep bow to each one in the room, 
beginning with his father, and then in regular 
order according to relationship. Afterward, 
accompanied by his relatives, he proceeded to 
the room where were placed the tablets in 
memory of his ancestors. There he offered 
sacrifice before each one in turn. Lighted 
candles in brass candlesticks he placed in front 
of each tablet, and beside the candles he put 


96 Our Little Korean Cousin 

dishes of sacrificial food and fruit. Then, as 
before his living relatives, he bowed profoundly 
to the tablets of the dead ones, and formally 
and seriously let them know that he had been 
regularly invested with the top-knot, and now 
had the right to be regarded as a man. 

The sacrifices made, Yung Pak called at the 
homes of all the male friends of the family, 
who now for the first time looked upon him 
as their equal, and in the evening Ki Pak gave 
a great dinner in honour of his son. Here 
there was much feasting and rejoicing, and all 
united in wishing the greatest prosperity and 
lifelong happiness to the little Korean boy 
now become a man. 

He is no longer our little Korean cousin. 
Hence, we leave him at this point, joining 
heartily in the best wishes and the compliments 
bestowed upon him by his friends. 


THE END. 


THE LITTLE COUSIN SERIES 

The most delightful and interesting accounts possible 
of child-life in other lands, filled with quaint sayings, 
doings, and adventures. 

Each i vol., i2mo, decorative cover, cloth, with six 
full-page illustrations in color by L. J. Bridgman. 

Price per volume $0.60 

By MARY HAZ ELTON WADE 

Our Little African Cousin 
Our Little Armenian Cousin 
Our Little Brown Cousin 
Our Little Cuban Cousin 
Our Little Eskimo Cousin 
Our Little German Cousin 
Our Little Hawaiian Cousin 
Our Little Indian Cousin 
Our Little Irish Cousin 
Our Little Italian Cousin 
Our Little Japanese Cousin 
Our Little Jewish Cousin 
Our Little Mexican Cousin 
Our Little Norwegian Cousin 
Our Little Philippine Cousin 
Our Little Porto Rican Cousin 
Our Little Russian Cousin 
Our Little Siamese Cousin 
Our Little Swiss Cousin 
Our Little Turkish Cousin 
By BLANCHE McMANUS 
Our Little English Cousin 
Our Little French Cousin 

By ELIZABETH ROBERTS MacDONALD 
Our Little Canadian Cousin 
By ISAAC HEADLAND TAYLOR 
Our Little Chinese Cousin 
By H LEE M. PIKE 
Our Little Korean Cousin 


ANIMAL TALES 

By Charles G. D. Roberts 

ILLUSTRATED BY 

Charles Livingston Bull 

as follows : 

The Lord of the Air 

(The Eagle) 

The King of the Mamozekel 

(The Moose) 

The Watchers of the Camp-fire 

(The Panther) 

The Haunter of the Pine Gloom 

(The Lynx) 

The Return to the Trails 

(The Bear) 

The Little People of the Sycamore 

(The Raccoon) 

Each i vol., small i2mo, cloth decorative, per vol- 
ume $0.50 

Realizing the great demand for the animal stories of 
Professor Roberts, one of the masters of nature writers, 
the publishers have selected six representative stories, to 
be issued separately, at a popular price. Each story is 
illustrated by Charles Livingston Bull, and is bound in a 
handsome decorative cover. 


COSY CORNER SERIES 


It is the intention of the publishers that this series shall 
contain only the very highest and purest literature, — 
stories that shall not only appeal to the children them- 
selves, but be appreciated by all those who feel with 
them in their joys and sorrows. 

The numerous illustrations in each book are by well- 
known artists, and each volume has a separate attract- 
ive cover design. 

Each, i vol., i6mo, cloth $0.50 

By ANNIE FELLOWS JOHNSTON 

The Little Colonel. (Trade Mark.) 

The scene of this story is laid in Kentucky. Its 
heroine is a small girl, who is known as the Little 
Colonel, on account of her fancied resemblance to an 
old-school Southern gentleman, whose fine estate and 
old family are famous in the region. This old Colonel 
proves to be the grandfather of the child. 

The Qiant Scissors. 

This is the story of Joyce and of her adventures in 
France, — the wonderful house with the gate of The 
Giant Scissors, Jules, her little playmate, Sister Denisa, 
the cruel Brossard, and her dear Aunt Kate. Joyce is 
a great friend of the Little Colonel, and in later volumes 
shares with her the delightful experiences of the “ House 
Party ” and the “ Holidays.” 

Two Little Knights of Kentucky, 

Who Were the Little Colonel’s Neighbors. 
In this volume the Little Colonel returns to us like an 
old friend, but with added grace and charm. She is 
not, however, the central figure of the story, that place 
being taken by the “ two little knights.” 


2 


L . C. PAGE AND COMPANY'S 


By ANNIE FELLOWS JOHNSTON ( Continued ) 

Cicely and Other Stories for Girls. 

The readers of Mrs. Johnston’s charming juveniles 
will be glad to learn of the issue of this volume for 
young people. 

Aunt ’Liza’s Hero and Other Stories. 

A collection of six bright little stories, which will 
appeal to all boys and most girls. 

Big Brother. 

A story of two boys. The devotion and care of 
Steven, himself a small boy, for his baby brother, is the 
theme of the simple tale. 

Ole Mammy’s Torment. 

“ Ole Mammy’s Torment ” has been fitly called “ a 
classic of Southern life.” It relates the haps and mis- 
haps of a small negro lad, and tells how he was led by 
love and kindness to a knowledge of the right. 

The Story of Dago. 

In this story Mrs. Johnston relates the story of Dago, 
a pet monkey, owned jointly by two brothers. Dago 
tells his own story, and the account of his haps and mis- 
haps is both interesting and amusing. 

The Quilt That Jack Built. 

A pleasant little story of a boy’s labor of love, and 
how it changed the course of his life many years after 
it was accomplished. 

Flip’s Islands of Providence. 

A story of a boy’s life battle, his early defeat, and his 
final triumph, well worth the reading. 


COSY CORNER SERIES 


3 


By EDITH ROBINSON 

A Little Puritan’s First Christmas. 

A story of Colonial times in Boston, telling how 
Christmas was invented by Betty Sewall, a typical child 
of the Puritans, aided by her brother Sam. 

A Little Daughter of Liberty. 

The author’s motive for this story is well indicated by 
a quotation from her introduction, as follows : 

“ One ride is memorable in the early history of the 
American Revolution, the well-known ride of Paul 
Revere. Equally deserving of commendation is another 
ride, — the ride of Anthony Severn, — which was no less 
historic in its action or memorable in its consequences.” 

A Loyal Little Maid. 

A delightful and interesting story of Revolutionary 
days, in which the child heroine, Betsey Schuyler, 
renders important services to George Washington. 

A Little Puritan Rebel. 

This is an historical tale of a real girl, during the 
time when the gallant Sir Harry Vane was governor of 
Massachusetts. 

A Little Puritan Pioneer. 

The scene of this story is laid in the Puritan settlement 
at Charlestown. The little girl heroine adds another to 
the list of favorites so well known to the young people. 

A Little Puritan Bound Girl. 

A story of Boston in Puritan days, which is of great 
interest to youthful readers. 

A Little Puritan Cavalier. 

The story of a “ Little Puritan Cavalier ” who tried 
with all his boyish enthusiasm to emulate the spirit and 
ideals of the dead Crusaders. 


4 


Z. C. PAGE AND COMPANY'S 


By MISS MULOCK 

The Little Lame Prince. 

A delightful story of a little boy who has many adven- 
tures by means of the magic gifts of his fairy godmother. 

Adventures of a Brownie. 

The story of a household elf who torments the cook 
and gardener, but is a constant joy and delight to the 
children who love and trust him. 

His Little Mother. 

Miss Mulock’s short stories for children are a constant 
source of delight to them, and “ His Little Mother,” in 
this new and attractive dress, will be welcomed by hosts 
of youthful readers. 

Little Sunshine’s Holiday. 

An attractive story of a summer outing. “ Little Sun- 
shine ” is another of those beautiful child-characters for 
which Miss Mulock is so justly famous. 


By JULIANA HO RATI A EWING 

Jackanapes. 

A new edition, with new illustrations, of this exquisite 
and touching story, dear alike to young and old. 

Story of a Short Life. 

This beautiful and pathetic story will never grow old. 
It is a part of the world’s literature, and will never die. 

A Great Emergency. 

How a family of children prepared for a great emer- 
gency, and how they acted when the emergency came. 



JUL 6 19C5 








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